SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A California state senator is seeking a legal opinion to determine whether the LPGA Tour's language requirement for players violates state or federal law.

Sen. Leland Yee is upset about a policy that requires players to speak English starting in 2009. The rule is effective immediately for new players.

Veteran members will be suspended if they can't pass an oral English test.

Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, says the rule might violate California laws covering workplace discrimination or disabilities. He expects an answer from the state Legislative Counsel's Office within a few weeks.

If the office determines the language rule is legal, Yee says he will introduce a bill to prohibit the policy from being enforced when the tour comes to California.

The tour has two events scheduled for October in Northern California.